East Stroudsburg Head Start preschool up and running after flood

An East Stroudsburg preschool that had to close after it flooded has reopened in half the time initially expected.

CHAD SMITH

An East Stroudsburg preschool that had to close after it flooded has reopened in half the time initially expected.

Classes resumed Monday for the nearly 100 youngsters who attend the Head Start preschool. The administrative offices on West Fourth Street are still a bit soggy, but the three classrooms that had to shut because of water damage were renovated and open for business, said Shane Williams, who manages the building as well as the two other Head Starts in the county.

"We are really happy that things are up and running again," Williams said.

On March 13 a major pipe broke at the building. Teachers who arrived that morning were greeted with about 2 to 3 feet of water in their classrooms. Classes had to be suspended as a major drying job, new carpeting and new furniture were needed.

Though the entire cleanup was expected to take about three weeks, Williams said that the county really put a rush on the job. He said cleanup crews armed with special vacuums, dehumidifiers and other equipment arrived at the building within two hours of the flood's discovery. The restoration cost about $200,000.

"The hard work that was put in made the transition back a little quicker and easier," Williams said.

News that the preschool was reopening earlier than expected was a relief to some parents of kids in the program. Many of the parents work and need someone to look after their children.

"Oh God, things are much better "»We're so happy that they could reopen pretty quickly. It was really hard when it was closed," said Natasha Edinger, a Stroudsburg resident whose child attends the preschool.

A little bit of work still needs to be done on the administrative side of the building, as the offices there are not yet ready to be used. But all the renovations should be finished in the near future, Williams said.